The Candid Appetite

Where Cooking Meets Photography

banana split

Banana Split Bundt Cake

I found the recipe for this Banana Split Cake from an old Better Homes and Gardens magazine where they took retro BHG recipes and remade and reshot them to see if they were still relevant (and still worked). It was a fun concept because the original photograph was amazing. The styling and lighting was something right out of the 1970’s, which makes sense because that’s when it was taken. Anyhow, I loved the idea of a cake that tasted like a banana split, so I was determined to give it a go. If you follow me on Instagram, you might’ve seen that I flopped the first attempt. I followed the recipe step by step, but something went wrong. It just didn’t come out right. The layers weren’t distinct and the cake was really tough and dry. I was devastated because I was so excited for this recipe and I obviously lost my touch and I really hate failing at things. I tossed the cake and tried it all over again the next day. I realized when I was preparing the chocolate and strawberry layer the first time around, I over-mixed the batter hence why it became to dense. So I changed the original recipe a tad to ensure that the second round was a bit more successful. I remade it and hit the nail on the coffin because the cake is amazing. I got over the fact that I had failed the first attempt, and have come to the conclusion that I need a few mishaps like these every now and then, only to humble me and make me a better baker/cook. What else can we do? Just gotta keep trying and never give up. Lucky for us we now have a great cake to enjoy. 

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Banana Split Ice Cream Pie

It’s practically the 4th of July and while normally I would’ve given you something red, white and blue for a dessert, I’ve moved on to more sinful pastures. Can you blame me? It’s hot and all the grilling and poolside drinking (and by poolside I mean daydreaming about a pool because I don’t have one) and chatting with friends and family calls for ice cream, because as we all know, ice cream is the answer to everything, especially holidays. Have I mentioned before that the 4th of July is my favorite holiday?! Well it is and I might be slightly obsessed, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s the grilling, the eating, the American flag paraphernalia, the cocktails and cold beer that have a lot to do with it. It’s just the best holiday all around. Relaxed and chill without any of the effort of Halloween or the stress of Thanksgiving or even the commitment of Christmas. The way I look at it, July 4th is a chance to not work, to see friends or family and to fire up that grill. No one is worrying about anything, maybe just wondering where we can watch fireworks for free and that’s it. Stress-free is the way to be. 

Speaking of stress-free, a dessert for the greatest holiday ever needs to be easy and straight to the point. Let’s not worry about such things as baking times, or whether something is cooked all the way or not. No stove needs to catch on fire this time around. I’m throwing the word pie out there, but don’t worry, this pie is the easiest pie you’ll ever make. The kid in us all will be jumping up for joy with this behemoth of an ice cream dessert, and not just one ice cream flavor but three. Yes three ice cream flavors and bananas and whipped cream and chocolate and cherries. Let’s not fight it. 

I just recently got a new-to-me cook book called First Prize Pies by Allison Kave. I say new-to-me because it was published last year and I only recently came across it. I’m a little late to the party, but the more important thing is that I finally arrived and it’s everything I never knew it was. I know that pies can be a year round seasonal treat, but for some reason I only make baking and eating pies during the summer and autumn seasons. I think that’s because berries are perfectly in season during the summer and in the fall it’s because I just like being in the kitchen baking. It’s no surprise that I got this book and am now making pies left to right. It feels like the appropriate thing to do this summer. So let’s all get in the kitchen, making and eating pies like our lives depend on it. And if you don’t want to turn on that oven because it’s so hot outside, don’t worry about. Allison and I have you covered with this no-bake chilled pie because that’s what friends are for. To tempt you with ice cream. You can thank us later. 

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